Meanwhile it was growing dusk and the scorching day had turned to the tempered heat of a glorious evening. The Mukaukas was still in his room while his wife with Susannah and her daughter, Mary and her governess, were enjoying the air and chatting in the open hall looking out on the garden and the Nile. The ladies had covered their heads with gauze veils as a protection against the mosquitoes, which were attracted in swarms from the river by the lights, and also against the mists that rose from the shallowing Nile; they were in the act of drinking some cooling fruit- syrup which had just been brought in, when Orion made his appearance. "What has happened?" cried his mother in some anxiety, for she concluded from his dishevelled hair and heated cheeks that the meeting had gone anything rather than smoothly. "Incredible things," he replied. "Paula fought like a lioness for her father's freedman. . ." "Simply to annoy us and put us in a difficulty," replied Neforis. "No, no, Mother," replied Orion with some warmth. "But she has a will of iron; a woman who never pauses at anything when she wants to carry her point; and at the same time she goes to work with a keen wit that is worthy of the greatest lawyer that I ever heard defend a cause in the high court of the capital. Besides this her air of superiority, and her divine beauty turn the heads of our poor household officers. It is fine and noble, of course, to be so zealous in the cause of a servant; but it can do no good, for the evidence against her stammering favorite is overwhelming, and when her last plea is demolished the matter is ended. She says that she showed a necklace to the child, and to you, charming Katharina." "Showed it?" cried the young girl. "She took it away from us--did not she, Mary?" "Well, we had taken it without her leave," replied the child. "And she wants our children to appear in a court of justice to bear witness for her highness?" asked Neforis indignantly. "Certainly," replied Orion. "But Mary's evidence is of no value in law." "And even if it were," replied his mother, "the child should not be mixed up with this disgraceful business under any circumstances." "Because I should speak for Paula!" cried Mary, springing up in great excitement. "You will just hold your tongue," her grandmother exclaimed. "And as for Katharina," said the widow, "I do not at all like the notion of her offering herself to be stared at by all those gentlemen." "Gentlemen!" observed the girl. "Men--household officials and such like. They may wait long enough for me!"